Monday Motivator 5

I asked God to take away my pride. And God said "No". He said it was not for him to take away, but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. And God said "No". He said her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. And God said "No". He said patience is a by-product of tribulations. It isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. And God said "No". He said he gives me blessings, happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain. And God said "No". He said suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. And God said "No". He said I must grow on my own. But he will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. And God said "No". He said I will give you life, that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me love others, as much as he loves me. And God said, Ah, finally you have the idea!

The Cab Ride!!!

The Cab Ride

(By a cab driver)


I arrived at the address and honked the horn.
After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. 
'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice.
I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. 
She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned
on it, like somebody out of a 1940's Movie.

By her side was a small nylon Suitcase. 
The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. 
All the furnitures were  covered with sheets.

There were no Clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.
In the corner was a cardboard box filled with Photos and  Glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. 
I took the suitcase to the Cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept  thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her..
'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, 
she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive
through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view Mirror. Her eyes were glistening.
'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..
'The doctor says I don't have very long.'
I quietly reached over and shut off the Meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me
the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived
when they were newlyweds.She had me pull up infront of a furniture
warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a Girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and
would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm
tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building,
like a small convalescent home,with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. 
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her Purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said
'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.
Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..


I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. 
For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had
gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?


On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything
more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what
others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, 
OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER
HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL


You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this ahead.
But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate 
by sending it on and reminding us that often it is the random acts of
kindness that most benefit all of us.


Thank you, my friend...
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we
are here we might as well dance.

 From an email forwarded by B. Venkatesh

Story. In Search of Freedom!

There is a beautiful story in Mahavira's life….

Once Mahavira visited Vaishali, one of the great cities of those days. In Vaishali there was a great thief, who was training his only son, in the 'art' of stealing. The thief told his son, "Remember, you are free to do everything, but don't go close to that man Mahavira. I am a master thief, but even then I avoid him, because he is dangerous. Some magical power surrounds him, and once you are caught in it there is no way out. So remember, go everywhere but avoid the campus where Mahavira is staying!"

So, the boy avoided Mahavira's campus for many days, but the temptation was natural.... It was worth testing. And one day the boy went a little closer to the campus where Mahavira was staying with his disciples. Mahavira was delivering his discourse to his disciples. Mahavira was saying, “…In paradise, there are angels who are very beautiful, but their feet are always pointing in the opposite direction as compared to their body….” The boy thought, Mahavira was just telling a fictitious story and he escaped from there.

That very night the boy and his father were both caught stealing. The king knew that, the father won’t open his mouth at any cost hence, the king ordered his men to concentrate on the son. There was a possibility that they may get some important link from him.

King’s strategy was that, the boy was given intoxicating drugs, so he slept for hours, completely unconscious. He was then taken to the most beautiful room in the palace, where there were all beautiful girls to serve him, bring him delicious food, drinks, etc. When the boy woke up from his deep sleep, he thought, "I am dead and have reached paradise. This is the paradise Mahavira was describing….wonderful girls, tasty food, all the comfort….Everything is great."

But suddenly he looked at the girls’ feet and immediately realized that there was some conspiracy, This cannot be a paradise, because the girls’ feet are normal, not turned in the opposite direction, as Mahavira had described….!"

Then those beautiful girls tried in every way to persuade him to extract the information saying that, if he divulges all the information, they will permanently take them to the paradise, as this is only the reception. They wanted him to confess about all the crimes, thefts, etc. committed by his father and him. But now he only kept smiling at them….!

He said, "Now, I am a disciple of Mahavira. Ask the king to befool others, not me! Just passing by I heard one sentence from him and it has saved me today."  There was no proof, so finally both the father and the son had to be released.

Mahavira’s magic had caught the boy, he became a great disciple of Mahavira.

Moral of the Story ….

Friends, the total surrender at the feet of the Guru is reaching out in search of one’s innocence, one’s lost childhood, originality, individuality and one’s own freedom…!

Have a Great Day Friends!

Monday Motivator 4

A young man wished to marry the farmer's beautiful daughter. He went to the farmer to ask his permission.

The farmer looked him over and said, "Son, go stand out in that field. I'm going to release three bulls, one at a time. If you can catch the tail of any one of the three bulls, you can marry my daughter."

The young man stood in the pasture awaiting the first bull. The barn door opened and out ran the biggest, meanest-looking bull he had ever seen. 

He decided that one of the next bulls had to be a better choice than this one, so he ran over to the side and let the bull pass through the pasture out the back gate.
The barn door opened again. Unbelievable. He had never seen anything so big and fierce in his life. It stood pawing the ground, grunting, slinging slobber as it eyed him. Whatever the next bull was like, it had to be a better choice than this one. He ran to the fence and let the bull pass through the pasture, out the back gate. 

The door opened a third time. A smile came across his face. This was the weakest, scrawniest little bull he had ever seen. This one was his bull. As the bull came running by, he positioned himself just right and jumped at just the exact moment. He grabbed... But the bull had no tail!

"Opportunities Are Like Sunrises, If You Wait Too Long You Can Miss Them". Life is full of opportunities. Some will  be easy to take advantage of, some will be difficult. But once we let them pass (often in hopes of something better), those opportunities may never again be available. 
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Right Question > Right answer!

In a synagogue which was also a monastery for the Jews, the chief rabbi was a very strict person. Two young Jews were walking in the garden of the monastery. They used to get one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening to pray and relax in the garden. Other times, they had to study the scriptures and do other disciplines.

Both were chain smokers and in the monastery, inside the synagogue, smoking was impossible, it was a crime. So, both were suffering. Finally, they decided that although it was putting one’s hand in a lion's mouth, one effort should be made. That chief rabbi was a dangerous man and he would definitely react. However, both of them decided that, they would ask the chief if they can smoke while they were in the garden ....

The next day, one of the two was coming out of the synagogue in a desperate mood, angry and sad, and suddenly he saw the other fellow sitting by the side of a beautiful rose bush and smoking! 

So, he asked him, "What are you doing? Have you already started without his permission?"

The other man coolly replied, "I have taken his permission!"

The first one asked, "What nonsense! Even I asked him and he shouted at me loudly and told me, if I want to smoke a cigarettes I should go to hell! How is that he allowed you?'"

The other man smiled and he said, "How did you ask him?"

The first one replied, "I simply asked, `Can I Smoke while Praying?'

The other man smiled and said, "The way you asked was wrong, because I asked him, whether I can Pray while Smoking and the chief said, `That's perfectly good, you may do that!"

Moral of the Story ....

Friends, a sane mind always looks at things from the opposite direction and counts the blessings, counts all that is beautiful in life. It also keeps a note of all it has and is always grateful for this. Naturally, the life of such a person becomes a life of blessings, surrounded by all beautiful expressions and experiences.

It is only a question of changing a small structure in one’s mind, a little change in one’s natural biological mind and it makes a lot of difference to one’s life. 

Friends, each moment of Life is whole and complete. One can look at life as if one small day is sandwiched between two dark nights or one can also look at it as two beautiful days sandwiching one small night. One has a choice of how one intends to feel ....to be in heaven or in hell. Finally, it is one’s own choice!

Have a Blissful Day Friends!

A Tale of Two Seas !

Sitting in the Geography class in school, I remember how fascinated I was when we were being taught all about the Dead Sea. As you probably recall, the Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea (and as my Geography teacher pointed out, if you understood that, it would guarantee 4 marks in the term paper! ….)

It is so high in salt content that the human body can float easily. You can almost lie down and read a book! The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35% - almost 10 times the normal ocean water. And all that saltiness has meant that there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No vegetation. No sea animals. Nothing lives in the Dead sea. And hence the name: Dead Sea.

While the Dead Sea has remained etched in my memory, I don't seem to recall learning about the Sea of Galilee in my school Geography lesson. So when I heard about the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea and the tale of the two seas, I was intrigued. Turns out that the Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from river Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with rich, colorful marine life. There are lots of plants. And lots of fish too. In fact, the sea of Galilee is home to over twenty different types of fish. Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come? Here apparently is why….

The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the Sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level, that it has no outlet. The water flows in from the river Jordan, but does not flow out. There are no outlet streams. It is estimated that over a million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea every day, leaving it salty. Too full of minerals. And unfit for any marine life. The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give. Result? No life at all. Think about it….

Friends, Life is not just about getting. It is about giving. We all need to be a bit like the Sea of Galilee.In fact, we are fortunate to get Health, Wealth, Education, Knowledge, Love, Respect, etc. But if we don't learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea….Everything in Life would simply all evaporate, just like the water in the Dead Sea.

If we continue to live with the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in, more and more of everything, the results can be disastrous. One should make sincere efforts to make sure that in the sea of one’s life, one has necessary outlets, so that, more and more unconditional love, kindness, forgiveness, wealth, wisdom, etc. can be shared.

Friends, one should make sure not only to get but also to give, to share, to open the taps, so that, floodgates to happiness are opened…Only then the Magic of Life can be experienced!

Have a Great Day Friends!

10 SEC READING: Frogs being boiled. Paulo Coelho

10 SEC READING: Frogs being boiled

A Blue Rose!!

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items. I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here." It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?" "My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly. "Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve." "Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?" "How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.. "You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by." I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section. Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him. I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Almighty. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.    She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."  She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.    May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, whichever differences that person may have, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or any other family member. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.  -     From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to the powers that be.  "People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel !"  From an email sent by Sangeeta Hegde

New twist in Donkey story !

One day a farmer's donkey fell down a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.      Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.   As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and Happily trotted off! *********************************** Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. Remember the five simple rules to be happy: Free your heart from hatred - forgive. Free your mind from worries - most never happen. Live simply and appreciate what you have. Give more. Expect  less  now........  Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.   Moral from today's lesson: When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

---

 From an email sent by vinod pillay

Monday Motivator

One day all the employees reached office and saw a big notice on the door :"The person who had been hindering your growth passed away yesterday.You are requested to join the funeral & prayers which have been organized in the gym". At the start, all were sad for the death of one of their colleague, but after a while they started getting curious to know who it was that hindered their growth. The curiosity in the gym grew such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. More the people reached the coffin, more the excitement heated up. Everyone thought: "Who could this be? Who was hindering my progress?". One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood nearby the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself.There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: "There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU." You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your partner changes, when your environment changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life. The world is simply a mirror, reflecting back to us our own inner state. If we are inwardly in turmoil then we are certain to see a tumultuous world. A seemingly joyful world is only returning to us our own inward joy. What we see is a reflection of our state of consciousness. Your internal state is easier to control than what you perceive around you. - Anonymous

Religion is not important

Each one of us Must See, Understand & Practise this in Life 


Conversation with the Dalai Lama....click on the link below or copy paste in browser window:

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23318185/1639667713/name/Your-religion-is-not-important.pps

Buddha: Focus On Your Own Cow!

Gautam Buddha used to speak about one of his servants, who used to just sit by the door from morning till evening and would count all the cows which were going towards the green pastures near the river. This routine was almost automatic for him. In the evening again, at the time of their return he would count the cows. He would become very much worried if some cow was missing or if the count was not matching.

Gautam Buddha used to narrate this story of his servant and his habit to explain something immensely meaningful for his disciples….

Buddha used to say, "I used to ask that poor servant, `Do you have a cow of your own?' And the servant would say, `No sir, I am very poor, so I don't have any cow.'

Then the Buddha would ask him, `…Then why do you unnecessarily go on counting thousands of cows every morning and again in the evening? Even if one cow is missing or has been miscounted, you become worried and suffer sleepless nights. And all this suffering just for the cows which are not even your own or not of any concern to you…!'"

Buddha used to further add, "…Similarly, the knowledge, the experience, that is not your own should not be your concern. It is just like, counting other people’s cows, unnecessarily wasting your life. It is always advisable to have at least ‘one cow of your own’ that will nourish you…!"

Moral of the Story ….

Friends, this story is quite meaningful and worth reflecting upon!

Most of us, the so called scholars, are just counting other people's cows. Most of us think that, we know without any knowing. Therefore, we go on destroying our whole life, and also the opportunity in which we would have known, experienced and lived powerfully.

Friends, we ourselves take away all the opportunities, all the possibilities of our own growth, only due to our dependence on other people’s knowledge and experience.

Have Meaningful Day Friends!

Price for Service!

A father was once teaching his son the purpose of life. 

He was trying to convince his son that, God has made him for the service of others.

The son replied, "Fine dad! I take it that God made me for the service of others, but why do you think he made the others? Just to be served by me? Then God has been unjust to me. 

And if he made me to serve others and made the others to serve me, then God seems to be very confused! Instead of this complex arrangement he could have laid a very simple rule, ‘Let each live for himself’.”

Food For Thought ....

Friends, when one serves others one always does so with a motive. Service is a bait with which one dominates others. Generally, one begins with service and ends with lordship.

Therefore Friends, beware of one who professes to serve you. He is certainly going to ask for the price.

Even a mother who tells her child that she sacrificed everything for him, is definitely going to cripple the child and ruin his life. And a father who says so to his son will possess and dominate him all his life.

Friends, it is true that most of us ask for the price for our services....even from our own child!

Have a Nice Day Friends!